88R HB 1944
by Rep. Rosenthal, same lead author · Died in committee · same text
Introduced textLast action, Mar 8, 2023: Referred to Elections
Relating to the use of certain devices by a person occupying a voting station.
Caption, 88R bill history
HB 531
bill letting voters check their phones in the booth
Died in committee
Verdict: No flags
No flagsInitial review
Initial review · graded Oct 20, 2026 · Headline, summary and grade are analysis of the bill text, not a finding about any person · How we grade
Caption
relating to the use of certain devices by a person occupying a voting station.
Caption from analyzed text · version I.
Summary
Ballot info only, downloaded before walking into the polling place.
The bill lets a voter standing in a voting booth use a phone to look at ballot or candidate information that was downloaded or created before the voter walked into the polling place. It touches voters, election judges and poll workers. The general ban on phones within 100 feet of a voting station stays, as does the ban on recording images or sound, and the optional posted notice now describes a limited ban instead of a full ban.
Labels
Labels: ZOMBIE BILL. Died 2 times: 88R HB 1944 (Died in committee) and this bill (Died in committee). Checked against 88R only.BACK FROM THE DEAD. Same text as a bill filed before that died: 88R HB 1944 (Died in committee). Filed in 2 sessions, counting this one. Checked against 88R only.TRY NO. 2. Filed in 2 sessions: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.NEVER GOT A HEARING. Filed Nov 12, 2024 and referred to the House Elections committee. No public hearing. The bill died.
Receipt
The receipt
89R-HB531 · 2024-11-12
SOLD BY
ITEM
relating to the use of certain devices by a person occupying a voting station.
WHAT IT DOES
Ballot info only, downloaded before walking into the polling place.
The bill lets a voter standing in a voting booth use a phone to look at ballot or candidate information that was downloaded or created before the voter walked into the polling place. It touches voters, election judges and poll workers. The general ban on phones within 100 feet of a voting station stays, as does the ban on recording images or sound, and the optional posted notice now describes a limited ban instead of a full ban.
CHARGES
[ ] NONE FOUND
TOTAL
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
HISTORY
- Filed
- Read first time
- Referred to Elections
FILED UNDER
No verified beat found.
No flags
THANK YOU FOR CHECKING THE RECEIPT
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
CAMPAIGN PAID FOR BY
Donors
Not tied to this bill.
Sources
The author's campaign account only. Own money and internal transfers are separate on the member page.
Derived itemized flow · Jul 2, 2024 to Oct 24, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Susan Sarofim$100,000.00
Lone Star Project Nonfederal$85,000.00
Lone Star Project Nonfederal
$85,000.00
- Cash
- $75,000.00
- Paid by others
- $10,000.00
- Total
- $85,000.00
Other filed descriptions $10,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101056369, 101068193.
Donald Henley$59,000.00
MoneyMissing data does not establish zero giving. Display amounts are rounded.
Lone Star Project Nonfederal
$85,000.00
- Cash
- $75,000.00
- Paid by others
- $10,000.00
- Total
- $85,000.00
Other filed descriptions $10,000.00
Also funds 1 other sitting lawmakers.
Derived recipient stock · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
TEC account match.
Sources
Derived itemized flow · Mar 25, 2026 to Sep 22, 2026. State data as of Nov 4, 2026.
Derived itemized contributions on live regular reports and uncovered special-session dates. Internal account transfers and daily reports are excluded.
Report IDs: 101056369, 101068193.
Votes
No floor vote loaded for this bill.
Fiscal
No fiscal note in the loaded record.
How this was graded
Analysis of text version I by claude-opus-5-5, Oct 20, 2026, against the published rubric.
FILED BEFORE
Filed 2 times: 88R and 89R. Checked against 88R only.
Sources
Texas House · Filed Nov 12, 2024
03/03/2025 H Referred to Elections: Mar 3 2025 2:24PM
Texas Legislature Online · Introduced
Data snapshot Oct 26, 2026 at 4:20 AM CDT. Grades, charges, quotes and corrections follow the published record.
House committee · Elections · Final status: Died in committee
Subjects
Elections--Registration & Suffrage
Electronic Information Systems
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
Text
The text as introduced · 283 words
89R3238 LRM-D By: Rosenthal H.B. No. 531 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the use of certain devices by a person occupying a voting station. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 61.014, Election Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a [ A ] person may not use a wireless communication device within 100 feet of a voting station. (b) A person may not use any mechanical or electronic means to record [ of recording ] images or sound within 100 feet of a voting station. (e) A person who is occupying a voting station may use the person's wireless communication device to access ballot or candidate information that was downloaded or created before the person entered the polling place. SECTION 2. The heading to Section 62.0111, Election Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 62.0111. NOTICE OF USE [ PROHIBITION ] OF CERTAIN DEVICES. SECTION 3. Section 62.0111(a), Election Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) At the discretion of the presiding judge, notice of the limited [ prohibition of the ] use of certain devices under Section 61.014 may be posted at one or more locations in the polling place where it can be read by persons waiting to vote. SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.